THE 



GRAPE CULTURIST 



Vol. I. 



NOYEMBEE, 1869. 



No. 11. 



NOVEMBER. 



WORK FOR THE MONTH, 



This will be a continuation of the 

 work of last month ; therefore we need 

 not say much about it. Fall planting 

 should be done in this month, about 

 which full instructions have been given 

 in former numbers. The rows for the 

 planting should be slightly elevated, so 

 that the water will not settle and freeze 

 about the 3^oung plants during winter. 

 Tender and half tender varieties, such 

 as Herbemont, Cunningham, etc., etc.; 

 should be slightly covered with earth. 



And here let us say a few words 

 about this great bugbear of so many 

 grape-growers, winter protection, which 

 often detains men who are willing to 

 do any work during summer, to plant 

 such varieties as Herbemont, etc., 

 which is, in the proper soil and with 

 winter protection, a sure crop every 

 year. We can assure them that it is 

 not half as laborious as they suppose. 

 If pruned at the right time, the canes 

 bent down along the trellis, and a few 

 spadefuls of earth thrown on them to 

 keep them in position, the principal 



part of the covering can be done with 

 the plow, and the whole labor to cover 

 an acre and take it up again in spring, 

 will not cost ten dollars. Is this an 

 object, when a certain crop of such 

 delicious grapes as the southern divis- 

 ion of the Aestivalis family ^delds, can 

 be gained by it every year? "We have 

 practiced it with the Herbemont and 

 Cunningham for the last eight or nine 

 years, and they never failed yet to 

 reward us by a heavy crop. How much 

 patient toil has been expended on the 

 Catawba without success, to save it 

 from mildew and rot during the sum- 

 mer, by the same men who begrudge 

 this slight labor in the fall, when they 

 have much more time at their disiDosal, 

 and are sure of a rich reward for their 

 labors. 



Cuttings should be made in time, 

 and the wood never be allowed to get 

 in the least dry ; but they should be 

 packed away every day, if possible, 

 tied in bundles, in dry, sand}' soil, and 

 covered with earth. 



